Mexico's Haitian Relief Efforts Already Underway
They don't get much press coverage in the US media, but Mexico has a very fast disaster response, honed by plenty of experience with hurricanes and earthquakes. Three Mexican Army airplanes carrying a team of disaster specialists has already landed in Port au Prince with 20 tons of supplies. The Mexican hospital ship El Huasteco left port today with more supplies and medical personnel. Another ship, the ARM Papaloapan, is expected to arrive in Haiti by the end of this week.
The personnel shipped out so far consist of about a hundred medical personnel, rescue specialists, engineers and technical personnel,and four rescue dogs and their handlers. These are probably from the Guadalajara Fire Department, the Mexican Red Cross, and Jalisco's Civil Defense Department. Other trained earthquake rescue teams are getting ready to go.
El Huasteco and 77 tons of desperately needed relief supplies was turned back from Haiti last May because of the Haitian government's fear about swine flu. I think they'll get a more enthusiastic reception this week.
Mexico's Recycled Relief Ship Rides Again
In 1992, the US Navy decommissioned the LSTUSS Newport. She was taken out of mothballs and refurbished for the Mexican Navy a few years later. Rechristened the ARM Papaloapan (P-411) in mid-2002, she carried relief supplies from Mexico to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. She is currently loading supplies and emergency personnel for the Haitian earthquake relief work.
The 522-foot ship can carry a couple dozen tanks or the equivalent bulk in medical supplies, and 400 emergency personnel. LSTs can run their funny-looking bow onto shore to unload their cargo, so the damaged docks in Port au Prince won't be a problem.
This is the third ship of that name in the Mexican fleet. All three ships were recycled into the Mexican Navy after the US Navy decommissioned them.
Sources:
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2010/01/13/apela-calderon-a-la-unidad-de-los-mexicanos-y-pide-ayuda-para-haitianos
http://www.guadalajarareporter.com/news-mainmenu-82/international-mainmenu-105/26125-mexico-to-join-haiti-relief-effort.html
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=7518156
Published by Tsu Dho Nimh
I'm a long-time technical writer with time to spare. I'm an omnivorous reader, a superb researcher, and a very fast writer. I'm also a good photographer. I'm fascinated by medicine, and annoyed by quack... View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentGod bless Haitians, I´m a mexican girl and I don´t mind if they rejected our help in the past because of the flu, a country needs a lot of help, there are lost of people suffering and solidarity doesn´t have borders, we must help all that people and I send greetings and a huge from México.
This tragedy is overwhelming. Glad to see everyone working together to help.
It makes me feel wonderful that so many are forgetting their differences and sending help!
Good to hear of this and of aid coming from all over. I am still trying to take in the reality of how many people have been affected, all so suddenly.